Saturday, July 11, 2009

Almost Organic...

"Walk down the aisles of any Whole Foods Market (WFM) or browse the wholesale catalogue of industry giant United Natural Foods (UNFI) and look closely. What do you see? Row after row of attractively displayed, but mostly non-organic “natural” (i.e. conventional) foods and products. By marketing sleight of hand, these conventional foods, vitamins, private label “365” items, and personal care products become “natural” or “almost organic” (and overpriced) in the Whole Foods setting. The overwhelming majority of WFM products, even their best-selling private label, “365” house brand, are not organic, but rather the products of chemical-intensive and energy-intensive farm and food production factories. Test these so-called natural products in a lab and what will you find: pesticide residues, Genetically Modified Organisms, and a long list of problematic and/or carcinogenic synthetic chemicals and additives. Trace these products back to the farm or factory and what will you find: climate destabilizing chemical fertilizers, pesticides, fungicides, herbicides, and sewage sludge—not to mention exploited farm workers and workers in the food processing industry. Of course there are many products in WFM (and in UNFI’s catalogue} that bear the label “USDA Organic.” But the overwhelming majority of their products, even their best selling private label, “365,” are not. " (Thanks Daniel)

The Organic Trade Association would like to remind readers that the presence of the USDA organic seal on a product means that the product has been produced without the use of antibiotics, synthetic hormones, toxic and persistent pesticides, genetic engineering and other excluded practices, sewage sludge, or irradiation. The seal also indicates that a product is produced in a manner that nourishes plants, fosters species diversity, helps combat climate change, prevents damage to valuable water resources, and protects farmers and farmers’ families from exposure to harmful chemicals.

Because the USDA organic seal is backed by strict, enforceable government regulations as well as a system of third-party verification, consumers can feel confident that organic products they buy are produced and handled with integrity from farm to table.

Although certified organic is better than nothing, what about the level of fraud that no one is willing to discuss within the organic sector? To me, Whole Paychecks - I mean Whole Foods, is the Walmart of the rich.